Martin Branner, the New York born creator of the long-running cartoon, "Winnie Winkle," set his cap for a career in art early in his life. Branner applied for a job in the art department of the New York World while he was still in high school. Although he was turned down for that initial job, he continued to do free-lance advertising art for nearly a decade before becoming established as a strip-cartoonist.

At 18, he saw no way to support himself with his pencil, and his career took a sharp and romantic turn when he eloped with then fifteen-year old Edith Fabrini, and the two formed a vaudeville act. As Martin and Fabrini, the duo, danced their way to considerable success, Branner supplemented his income by drawing occasional ads fo...